Sprinkler head spoon

ABSTRACT

A stainless steel clip or spoon is snapped over the deflector on the impact arm of a step-by-step rotary sprinkler to eliminate erosion. The clip has a similar surface to the deflector.

United States Patent 1191 Purtell Apr. 23, 1974 [54] SPRINKLER HEAD SPOON 3,375,979 4/1968 Brisker =1 a1 239 230 2,583,706 1/1952 Prescott 239/591 X [75] Invent Rufus Brownfield 1,593,918 7/1926 Stanton 239/232 73 Assigneez TrLMatic, Inc. Brownfield, Tex 3,208,672 9/1965 Suliy 239/230 3,581,994 6/1971 Heiberger 239/233 X [22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1973 PP 336,085 Primary Examiner-Robert S. Ward, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wendell Coffee [52] US. Cl 239/230, 239/233, 239/602, Y

' 1 239/D1G. 19 51 Int. Cl. B05b 3/04, B05b 3/16, B05b 15/06 1571 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search g?b A stainless steel clip or spoon is snapped over the deflector on the impact arm of a step-by-step rotary sprinkler to eliminate erosion. The clip has a similar [56] References and surface to the deflector.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Warren 239/230 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SPRINKLER HEAD SPOON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIO Step-by-step sprinklers having impulse or impact 0 arms are well known to the art. These sprinklers have a body mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. An impact arm is mounted on the body for rotation about the same axis as the body. A water deflector on the arm directs the water so it causes the impulse arm to move away from its original position. A spring on the arm slams the arm back against the body so as to rotate the body.

Sprinklers according to this design were first made of brass or other metal. However, recently, commercial models have been made of plastic material, i.e., synthetic resins or the like.

Since brass as well as plastic material is not highly abrasionresistant and, also, since much of the water used for commercial irrigation will contain abrasive particles in the form of sand pumped from the aquifers producing the water, the water breaker tends to erode, which decreases or destroys the efficient operation of the sprinkler.

Other workers in the art have suggested putting various clips or attachments for the impact or impulse arm, but not for the purpose suggested herein.

Examples of the prior art are:

Sully US. Pat. No. 3,208,672

Busker US. Pat. No. 3,375,979

Also, I was aware of STANTON, US. Pat. No. 1,593,918, before filing this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

1. New and Different Function I'have found that if the water breaker or first deflector is sheathed with abrasion and corrosion resistant material, the impulse arm will have a life span equal to the life of the head. I prefer to cover the deflector with a clip or spoon which has a similar shape of the deflector originally designed by the manufacturer.

2. Objects of this Invention An object of this invention is to irrigate agricultural land by sprinkling water upon the soil.

Another object is to prolong the life of an impulse arm of a step-bystep sprinkler so it has a life equal to that of the sprinkler head.

Other objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, adjust, operate, and maintain.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a method that is rapid, efficient. and inexpensive and does not require skilled people to install, adjust, operate, and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sprinkler with my invention attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the clip.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clip attached to the deflector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

FIG. 1 shows a sprinkler as common and well known to' the prior art.

The sprinkler includes base 10, having threads 12 on the lower portion thereof. The threads form connection means on the base for fluidly connecting said base to a source of Water under pressure. As illustrated, the threads 12 form means for structurally connecting it to pipe. Body 14 is journaled in the base 10 for rotation about a vertical axis. The body 14 has flange 16 which is biased upward by spring 18 above the base 10 and lower flange 20 below the base 10. Therefore, the body 14 is restrained from excessive vertical movement about the base 10. Low friction washers and seals permit easy rotation of the body 14 on the base 10 about,

the vertical axis as well as to prevent leaking of water.

The body 14 has at least one nozzle 22 angled outward from'the vertical axis. The nozzle is connected by a fluid conduit in the body to connect the nozzle 22 to the water under pressure.

Impact arm 24 is journaled to the body 14 about shaft 26. The shaft has the same vertical'axis as the body is rotated about to the base 10.. Therefore, the impact arm 24 is journaled on said body for rotation about the same vertical axis heretofore described. The shaft 26 extends within superstructure 28 of the body and arm 24 is within this superstructure. The impact arm includes hammer 30 which contacts anvil portion 32 of the superstructure 28 of the body 14. Spring 34, surrounding the shaft 26, interconnects the body 14 and the arm 24 to bias the hammer 30 against the anvil 32. When the hammer 30 is against the anvil 32, the nozzle 22 directs water against first deflector 36 on the arm 24. The first deflector 36 has sharp edge 38 toward the nozzle 22. The first deflector also has water deflecting surface 40.

The first deflector 36 or water breaker deflects the water to assist in the rotating of the arm in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1 to aid in slamming the hammer 30 against the anvil 32. This is the impact or impulse that causes the body 14 to rotate in a step-bystep motion. In addition, at the time of impact, the deflector surface 40 causes the water to deflect to second deflector 42. The water from the second deflector causes the arm to rotate counterclockwise, as seen in FIG. 1, which cocks it to be returned, primarily, by the spring 34.to deliver an impulse or impact of the hammer 30 to the anvil 32.

The description to this point describes what is well known, old and commercially on the market. Through many years, the exact shape and design has been well developed so the operation is efficient. However, it will be understood from the above description that the water from the nozzle 22 impinging upon the first deflector 36 is most critical. .Not only does the water on the edge 38 assist slamming the hammer against the anvil, but the additional water against the surface 40 is what causes'the water to correctly impinge upon the second deflector 42. Therefore, when the first deflector and its edge erode from use, efficiency suffers.

The drawing illustrates the impact arm 24 as plastic material. It will be understood that it is the manufactured material and might be metal.

To prevent the rapid abrasion, I have found it desirable to cover the first deflector 36 by clip 50. Lip 52 on the clip 50 fits over the edge 38 so the clip itself has edge 54, which has similar location and function as the edge 38 of the original deflector. It is noted that in this specification that I use the term similar in its geometrical sense, i.e., having the same shape and differing only in-the size and position. The spring clip also has deflector surface 56, which has similar shape and function to the deflector surface 40 of the original first deflector 36. The clip, in addition, has spring latch 58 with operator 60 so it is held firmly to the first deflector 36. Therefore, it may be seen that the edge 54 fits over the edge 38 which faces the nozzle 22 and the spring latch fits over the end of the first deflector 36 opposite said edge 38. Operator 60 furnishes a pressure point for the fingers of the operator to attach or detach the clip to the first deflector 36.

Therefore, the clip 50 when placed in position upon the first deflector 36 causes the sprinkler to have the identical operation as before. However, inasmuch as 4 the clip 50 is made of an abrasion and corrosion resistant material, it is not eaten away by the impurities of the water impinging against it. In addition to the material being abrasion and corrosion resistant, it is necessary for it to be resilient so it is retained in place once it is installed. I find the requirements for the clip 50 to be well met by metal. Furthermore, I have specifically had good results using 302 half-hard stainless steel as the material for the clip 50. I have found the second deflector 42 does not erode away at a rate justifying a clip over it.

Expressing what is done another way, it may be said that I cover the deflector 36 with an abrasion and corrosion resistant sheath or clip 50.

the following claims. The restrictive description and I the drawing of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a step-by-step rotary sprinkler having,

a. a base,

b. connection means on said base for fluidly connecting said base to a source of water under pressure,

c. a body d. journaled in said base for rotation about a vertical axis,

e. a nozzle on said body angled outward from said vertical axis,

f. a fluid conduit through said body connecting the nozzle to the water under pressure, I

g. an impact arm h. journaled on said body for rotation about said vertical axis,

j. a hammer on said arm,

k. an anvil on said body,

m. a spring interconnecting the arm and body biasing thehammer against the anvil, and

n. at least one water deflector on said arm,

0. said water deflector aligned with said nozzle when the hammer is on the anvil,

p. said deflector having a water deflecting surface and an edge facing the nozzle;.

q. THE IMPROVED STRUCTURE COMPRISING:

fitting over the edge of the deflectional limitation of v. said clip made of metal. i 1 3. The invention as defined inclaim "1 with an additional limitation of v. said clip made of 302 half-hard stainless steel.

4'. The invention as defined in claim 1 with additional limitations of v. said clip having a spring latch on the side opposite the lip,

w. said spring latch fitting over the end of the deflec' tor opposite said edge. p

5. The invention as definedin claim-4 with an additional limitation of x. said clip made of metal. 6. The-invention as defined in claim 4 with an additional limitation of x. said clip made of 302 half-hard stainless steel.

7. In a step-by-step rotary sprinkler having a. va base,

b. connection means on said base for fluidly connecting said base to a source of water under pressure,

c. a body d. journaled in said axis, v I

e. a nozzle on said body angled outward from said vertical axis, I j

f. a fluid conduit through said body connecting the nozzle to the water under pressure,

g. an impact arm h. journaled on said'body for rotation about said vertical axis,

base for rotation about'a vertical j. a hammer on said arm,

I. an anvil on said body,

m. a spring interconnecting the arm and body biasing the hammer against the anvil, and

n. at least one water deflector on said arm,

0. said water deflector aligned with said nozzle when the hammer is on the anvil,

p. said deflector having a water deflecting surface and an edge facing the nozzle;

q. THE METHOD OF PREVENTING. EROSION-OF SAID DEFLECIOR COMPRISING:

r. covering said deflector with an abrasion and corrosion resistant sheath,

s. snapping on sa'idsheath after the manufacture of i said sprinkleris completed. 

1. In a step-by-step rotary sprinkler having, a. a base, b. connection means on said base for fluidly connecting said base to a source of water under pressure, c. a body d. journaled in said base for rotation about a vertical axis, e. a nozzle on said body angled outward from said vertical axis, f. a fluid conduit through said body connecting the nozzle to the water under pressure, g. an impact arm h. journaled on said body for rotation about said vertical axis, j. a hammer on said arm, k. an anvil on said body, m. a spring interconnecting the arm and body biasing the hammer against the anvil, and n. at least one water deflector on said arm, o. said water deflector aligned with said nozzle when the hammer is on the anvil, p. said deflector having a water deflecting surface and an edge facing the nozzle; q. THE IMPROVED STRUCTURE COMPRISING: r. a clip, s. a lip on the clip fitting over the edge of the deflector, t. the clip sheathing the deflector and having a surface similar to the water deflecting surface of the deflector fitted thereover, u. said clip made of resilient, abrasion and corrosion resistant material.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation of v. said clip made of metal.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation of v. said clip made of 302 half-hard stainless steel.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 with additional limitations of v. said clip having a spring latch on the side opposite the lip, w. said spring latch fitting over the end of the deflector opposite said edge.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 with an additional limitation of x. said clip made of metal.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 4 with an additional limitation of x. said clip made of 302 half-hard stainless steel.
 7. In a step-by-step rotary sprinkler having a. a base, b. connection means on said base for fluidly connecting said base to a source of water under pressure, c. a body d. journaled in said base for rotation about a vertical Axis, e. a nozzle on said body angled outward from said vertical axis, f. a fluid conduit through said body connecting the nozzle to the water under pressure, g. an impact arm h. journaled on said body for rotation about said vertical axis, j. a hammer on said arm, l. an anvil on said body, m. a spring interconnecting the arm and body biasing the hammer against the anvil, and n. at least one water deflector on said arm, o. said water deflector aligned with said nozzle when the hammer is on the anvil, p. said deflector having a water deflecting surface and an edge facing the nozzle; q. THE METHOD OF PREVENTING EROSION OF SAID DEFLECTOR COMPRISING: r. covering said deflector with an abrasion and corrosion resistant sheath, s. snapping on said sheath after the manufacture of said sprinkler is completed. 